law of parsimony

noun

Philosophy.

1. a principle according to which an explanation of a thing or event is made with the fewest possible assumptions.

Word History and Origins

Origin of law of parsimony¹

First recorded in 1830–40

When To Use

What is the law of parsimony?

The law of parsimony is a principle that says that the best explanation is the one that requires you to make the fewest possible assumptions about what’s involved. Another way to say this is that the correct explanation or solution is usually the simplest.Parsimony means extreme frugality, or stinginess, and in this context it refers to being stingy with assumptions (by trying to avoid them). Law is used in the phrase to mean a rule or principle. The law of parsimony is also called Occam’s Razor, the law of economy, and the principle of economy.The law of parsimony is a general principle of logic, but most often you’ll see it used in discussions of complex scientific concepts, such as the theory of evolution.